Investigating managerial and leadership skills on the proper functioning of public primary schools in Vereeniging

Abstract

The research study investigated participants’ views to understand the perceptions of staff members employed at public primary schools. Public primary schools are organizations that provide teaching and learning. The school belongs to the Gauteng Department of Education, which has employed various staff members to help in the daily functioning of the school. In addition to the staff members, the DBE appoints a School Management Team. The SMT are managers of the school who assist with the functioning of these public primary schools. However, the school management team is placed in schools with limited skills as the team is placed in these roles merely based on experience and not expertise. Schools have noted that when managers of the school are unable to display appropriate skills, staff members tend to be influenced. This can then cause schools not to function correctly. The research study followed a qualitative approach to achieve the primary research objectives. The primary research objective focused on the views and perceptions of staff members employed at selected public primary schools in Vereeniging. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with various public primary school staff members (educators, administrative, and maintenance workers). The discussions took place in a hybrid setting, including face-to-face and zoom online interviews. Data from eighteen (18) interviewees were collected, sixteen (16) were analysed and interpreted. Thematic data analysis was used to code and develop relevant themes. The findings which emerged from the thematic data analysis revealed that there is a presence of adverse influence of managerial and leadership skills on the proper functioning of public primary schools. The SMT’s use of skills, positively or negatively, influenced how staff members performed tasks within the organization and the functioning of the school.